Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Positive Altitudes takes Milwaukee kids to new heights on the ski slopes

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Skiing can be an expensive hobby, and hard to get started if you don't have the clothes or the gear. But a couple of teenagers didn't want money to stand in the way of other kids learning to ski. So, with a positive attitude, these everyday heroes launched a program called Positive Altitudes.

Hitting the slopes on Tuesdays looks a little different than what Mia Darr is used to.

"This is the hill that we're about to conquer, ok," she told a group of kids as she led them to the top of the slope.

This University School of Milwaukee senior usually races down the hill. She's an accomplished racer.

"When I was about three years old, I started skiing and I fell in love with the sport immediately," Darr said.

As a teenager, she realized she wanted to share her love of skiing with others.

"During Covid, my brother and I were on a chairlift ride, and we were thinking, why can financial barriers prevent people from skiing? Like, that's not right to us," she recalled.

That conversation led Mia and her brother, Jackson Darr, to found Positive Altitudes four years ago.

"Ok, good job, good turning," Darr said, watching the skiers come down the hill.

Now, for four weeks every winter, they teach kids to ski at Sunburst in Kewaskum.

"We provide clothing, rentals, all equipment free of charge," she said.

Between 50 and 75 kids from the Boys and Girls Club, COA Youth, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, all learning a new meaning for the word "pizza."

"Do a pizza so you stop," Darr called out, describing the wedge shape beginning skiers make to control their skis.

"It was kind of hard for me," said Nazir Dossou-Oliver.

It's his second season skiing with Positive Altitudes.

"I might need some lessons. But I feel pretty confident still," he said.

Dan Seiter- his Big Brother- is learning along with him.

"I think it's an incredible experience and can lead to a lifelong love of skiing," Seiter said.

So far, Positive Altitudes has provided 800 ski lessons, all free of charge.

"Alright Kingston, let's see it," Darr said with encouragement.

She said she is learning the ropes of fundraising along the way.

"People from my school community, people from just the Milwaukee community in general, and we got donations and then also we applied for grants," she said of the funding.

Her proud dad, Omar Darr, said it's good to see her flex a different kind of muscle.

"She's a ski racer, a lacrosse player and a tennis player," he said. "I don't think many people know Mia as a community servant."

Whether it's the chair lifts, or taking the magic carpet, it's been quite a ride and a passion she'll keep sharing with kids. 

"I'll sneak right behind you," she said, gliding up the hill.

"They want to come back every year, so I think that response is pretty good," Darr said with a smile.

Mia has been running things solo this year. Her brother is a freshman at Rice University. After the skiing is over, the kids get dinner, too.

The week we went, they enjoyed Chick-Fil-A and Crumbl Cookies.

For more information on Positive Altitudes, click here. 

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].